A trusted friend......makes a difference.

Professional Development Programs

From the beginning, Shady Lane has served as a model for other early childhood programs, through site visits, publications, conferences and collaborations. Since 2000, Shady Lane has expanded its reach by providing high-quality professional development and other support and consultation services to the professionals and programs that, in turn, educate and care for our area's youngest children.

Please see the listings below for upcoming professional development opportunities being offered by Shady Lane. Follow the links to register for these events through the Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys to Quality website (login required).

Our thanks to our partners in early childhood professional development: Point Park University; the Southwest Regional Key; and the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC).

We will read Your Self-Confident Baby and explore Magda Gerber's RIE philosophy (Resources for Infant Educarers), discovering how to encourage children's natural abilities from birth to three years. Topics include: respecting the child and yourself; developing optimum play/exploration, appropriate environments, making the most of "quality time"; extending play, encouraging curiosity and creativity, identifying and meeting challenges, and communicating with infants and toddlers. We will also explore the relevance of these topics to the Early Learning Standards.

Upon completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

Identify individual differences that affect children’s growth and development

Describe how play provides opportunities for children to grow and learn

Create environments that support children in all developmental domains

Structure experiences based on the needs and interests of individual children

Assess a program’s responsiveness to children’s need for warm, caring relationships with adults

Analyze how the program supports nurturance and mutual respect among adults and children

"At long last -- Magda Gerber's wisdom and spice captured in a book --what a treasure! Now parents and caregivers everywhere can benefit from learning what it means to truly respect babies."- Janet Gonzalez-Mena, Author of Infants, Toddlers, and Caregivers and Dragon Mom

This is a 3-part series. You must register for and attend all three parts in order to receive credit. Your registration fee of $21.00, payable online at time of registration, includes all sessions of the series. Act 48 Credits are available for an additional $5.00 processing fee. Please go to the PA Keys website to register for this class and for more information on Act 48 credits.

A Program of Shady Lane This program is funded through the Southwest Regional Key and PAEYC.

Professional Development Vodcasts from Better Kid Care--with assists from Shady Lane...

The latest professional development resources created by our colleagues at the Penn State Cooperative Extension Better Kid Care program are now available online! Three "vodcasts" filmed in whole or in part at Shady Lane and featuring the insights of our professionals have just been released. These videos and associated research and printable materials are designed as tools for early childhood professionals. See below for embedded videos and more information. Thanks to everyone at Better Kid Care!

Executive Function: foster with Partner Time play

Video featuring our Young Threes Lead Educators, Maren Herman and Rachel Anderson, and great classroom footage illustrating the Young Threes' "Partner Time" process and how it supports development of Executive Function in young children.

Being There for Grieving Children

Important advice for supporting young children who have suffered a significant loss, featuring an interview and voiceover by Katie O'Neill, Shady Lane's Family/Child Advocate.

Change and Young Children

Katie O'Neill discusses the impact of changes in a young child's life and how best to support children's transitions and coping skills.

Thanks again to our friends at Better Kid Care for your work in educating our fellow early educators. For more vodcasts and supporting materials, visit the Better Kid Care website and click on the "vodcasts" button.

Shady Lane Professional Development Instructors

Click on these links to see profiles of Shady Lane's professional development instructors, including credentials and approved topic codes.